"As
you get older, your needs change, sometimes from year to year," says
Oscar Jarnicki, co-owner of Eastgate Village. "We try to go over what
it is the client is looking for, what their needs are so we can address
present "” and future "” requirements."

A
facility like Eastgate Village, with 153 apartments on four levels, is
planned to put every level of service under one roof including
independent living and assisted living with various therapy and nursing
care available to those who need it, when they need it, including an
emergency call alarm monitored 24 hours a day by the home health agency
on site.

"It's customized care," he says.
"Instead of selling one package, we want to cater to one person at a
time." Residents include those living independently to those who prefer
that someone else do the cooking to those who may need therapy, nursing
care, even private caregivers.

"I think it's
very important for anyone looking for services to do an assessment
beforehand to determine what the individual's needs are and see how
best a particular community can meet those needs."

What
makes Eastgate stand out is the local ownership by Jarnicki and Mona Jo
Trowbridge. "We are one of the few that are locally-owned and operated.
We are there every day. We know everyone and everyone's family. This
place is almost an extension of us," says the former hospital
administrator and nursing care facility owner.

He
sees the biggest challenge for residents as the initial move. "Making
change when someone has lived in one place for so many years and has to
downsize is very difficult. We try to get people to recognize that this
is still their own home. They can come and go as they please, do as
much or as little as they please. You have the independence but also
the security of being with others.

Once
residents take that step and make the change most say they should have
done it sooner he says. "They end up liking the freedom and
flexibility."

"We want people to realize that
this is a lifestyle change that can be very, very beneficial to them if
they just give it a chance. Most of their children love it the minute
they see the place because they see the carefree living "” no worrying
about laundry or cooking, cleaning, paying bills."

"This
can be such a great lifestyle. It can be great for everyone. Our
objective to make life more carefree for everyone "” the residents,
their kids and relatives." -

A Cruise Ship on Land
Maple Knoll Village isn't your grandmother's retirement home.

Describing Maple Knoll Village as a "cruise
ship on land" might not be the comparison that comes to mind for many,
but it suits Becky Schulte, Maple Knoll Village director of
communications, just fine.

"I'm on a one-person
crusade to change people's views," she says. "It's not just a nursing
home. The health care is there if you need it, but it's just one small
piece of the community."

As a retirement
community Maple Knoll is a far cry from old perceptions of senior
living. The facilities that most remember probably didn't have tai chi
water classes, warm water pools, pubs with big screen TVs, poker games,
planned trips and a concierge . . . let alone four social directors,
including one just for the assisted living community.

"In
most people's minds, they remember grandma's nursing home," Schulte
says. "And we do have that. But the reason you should come here is that
this retirement community takes care of all the things that aren't fun
in life like security, housekeeping, lawn care. You can push all that
aside here. Let us worry about the furnace."

Instead
of fretting about those details you can be busy planning outings,
exercising, going to classes and discovering new hobbies and
friendships.

"We can keep you busy morning till
night if you participate in everything," Schulte says. "It's not a
place you come and just sit. It's an active community for people who
enjoy life."-